If you are worrying as much as you appear to be, then the only certain course is to not buy that home but only buy one with proven working full fibre in it.

You're correct there, nobody needs to be there for Stage 1.
They will put the CSP anywhere accessible they want on the ground floor if nobody is present. If you have a preference for where you want the CSP then you will need to be there.

Someone over the age of 18 needs to be there for Stage 2.

That's a worrying comment (allbeit bluntly true). Seems crazy to miss out on a lovely property which has taken us years to find on broadband alone, but I guess that happens.

There must be some way around this - if only I could speak to Openreach.

I realise its a difficult question, but I'll ask anyway: In your experience/oppinion, what are the chances, in percentage terms, (100% = OK) of:

1) There being no FTTP service to the house based on what I've said/shown;
2) There being no FTTP service to the house if stage 1 was completed (but not stage 2).

1) 10% chance of no fttp - might be lower but would need to do map work and also visit area to verify everything
2) 0% once stage 1 done all fine - but would recommend someone be at property for stage 1 no matter what provider says, as providers are very poor at handling FTTP

If the FTTP is as critical as you say why not get the agreement of the current owners to place your order ahead of completion? Didn�t you say earlier Openreach wanted to do stage 1 within a couple of days?

You�ll need to be prepared to write off the costs of the install and minimum term contract if the sale falls through but cost of this would be insignificant compared to the overall costs of property purchase.

You can request to be present when the step one is done ...

@ AL66:
I'm just about to ask them for permission - I don't want to alarm them by accessing the property, so will try to arrange stage 1 asap, then stage 2 some time (weeks) later when hopefully the pruchase of house completes. So I'm only asking them for permission to access outside of property.

I would happily write of the costs and the 18 months contract to find out, but I was told that I could cancel at any point up to 14 days after activation - which in this case would not happen if (1) the house purchase fell through, or (2) the fttp was discovered not possible on stage 1.

So the worst case scanario (correct me if I am wrong) is that I may have to pay the installation costs, and the owners would have a new box on their wall.

The bt install looked very quick as you remind me, so I think stage 1 would be done within 2-3 days of order.


@MrSaffron:
It looks like doing stage 1 is worth it based on your experience



The only other option is Satellite, and on that subject I am going to Bicester next week to test Euopasat tarriffs at their head office. I am not sure how it will feel to do things like remote desktop to severs etc, and also the data limit is an issue.

Edited by deleted (Wed 28-Feb-18 11:34:19)

I don't know who told you that you could cancel 14 days after activation, what's a whopper.

The 14 day cooling off period is from the date the order is placed. If service goes live in that 14 days then you are liable for activation and usage for those days.

Really - that was the BT customer services rep - she was very clear about it being any time up to 14 days after activation - kept repeating it in fact.

This link seems to suggest she is correct:
http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/49679...


Either way I guess I could cancel after stage 1 before activation which would be after stage 2 I presume.

At the worst I cancel too late and have to pay the £575 (31.99 X 18).

The existing copper line is overhead, attached to the property at gutter level or similar? Stage 1 the external fibre tube will be run overhead probably following the existing copper, down the wall of the property to ground level location for the customer splice point, no need to access the inside of the property. Good idea to be on site for this to make sure it gets put where you want it keeping in mind the route you want from there to the internal ONT location (stage 2).

Once you�ve got stage 1 done you should be able to stall stage 2 for a while if necessary, make up some excuses why you can�t be there for any offered appointment times. Once you�ve exchanged contracts hopefully the current owner/their solicitor will allow you access for stage 2 if that�s before completion.